NOTE: I tried to post this yesterday (Monday) but blogspot was being quite stubborn. So jump in your time machine... and read it yesterday.
So I guess I’m a big liar.
I really should have learned in my 34 years of life to never use the words, “I promise.” Sets you up for no good often enough.
Yeah, so I didn’t blog. I am encouraged, however, that there have been some peeps checking up on me, so if you’re still tuning in despite my absence… thanks ☺ It really does mean a lot.
When I was a kid, I tried on many occasions to keep a diary. I would do well for while and then fall behind. I would then make a list of the things I wanted to record – dates and events – so I could do everything in order to make it look like I didn’t let huge amounts of time lapse. In retrospect, that was a little silly. I’ve decided not to do that here. As tempted as I am to “back-blog” about lots of cool stuff, I will not. I will blog today about what’s on my mind and as past stuff comes to it, I’ll include it. So there. If that means New Year’s party pictures in March, so be it.
Please keep reading, dear reader. I’ve got some interesting stuff on the noggin to share.
Yesterday was Sunday. Matt and I have a good friend named Rachel whom we’ve known for about seven years -- ever since we’ve been in Baltimore actually. She and her good-looking crew of boys joined us at church yesterday which was really cool. We’ve been hoping she could visit for a long time. We loaded up all the kiddos after the service with plans to drive across the street to the mall for lunch. We pulled up in front to see if Rach had gotten the message of where to meet us when her oldest son, Gavin, said, “Miss Katy, my mom said she has someone inside that she wants you to meet.” So I hustled inside.
There are times in your life where God just sets you up in a very cool way. Allow me to rewind for a moment. Over a year ago, I had heard of a family who’s daughter (five years old at the time) was diagnosed with a face tumor. We prayed for Christina at our women’s Bible study (ironically held at Rachel’s apartment) and at school last year with my 6th graders. Rachel actually got a chance to meet and spend time with her and her family while volunteering at Johns Hopkins last fall. This past spring we heard of Christina’s passing after a long struggle and it was devastating to me. It really did hit me hard. I did hear though, in the midst of all the sorrow, that her family had an incredible testimony of faith, particularly her mother.
Well, yesterday after church, I found myself in the embrace of this mother, Trae Bennington. I had heard so much about her, I almost felt as if I were meeting a celebrity. Trae has heard part of our story and I was so thankful for the instant bond we felt. When you lose a child, there is nothing like looking in the eyes of someone who has felt the same pain. We have plans to meet for lunch soon and connect some more.
February is a hard month. Today marks 18 months since Caleb died. The 21st of this month would have been his 12th birthday. It’s still hard. Very hard some days.
There is just something very raw and refreshing about being face to face with someone who has experienced pain like you have. Our circumstances were different in that theirs was a longer process and ours was very sudden – I haven’t decided if one is “easier” than the other. I look forward to a new connection which, I feel, was set-up by God.
More to come later. Lighter stuff, like pictures of my new mailbox!
PS - If you want to click on Christina's link, the user name is christina, password is jesussaves
